Gareth A Davies has been a sports journalist for The Daily Telegraph since 1993. He is Boxing and MMA Correspondent. Has been intrigued by fight and combat sports from a young age. Personal sporting passions are rugby, cricket, and martial arts. Also covers the Paralympic Games. Hates getting his hair cut. Follow on Twitter @GarethADaviesDT

UFC Brazil: "I should have had warning," says Norman Parke as point deducted leads to draw with Leonardo Santos

The home fighter shaded Parke in the opening round, in a contest underpinned by the clinch game. Santos left a welt under Parke's left eye early in the bout, and then caught the Northern Irishman with an eye poke soon afterwards.

Parke then went on to outstrike and out muscle Santos both in the stand-up and in the clinch in the second two periods, but an immediate point deduction by referee Wernei Cardoso in the second round influenced a return of 29-27, and 28-28 twice on the judges' cards.

It was judge Vitor Perreira who scored 29-27, having awarded the first and second rounds to Santos. Parke was unlucky not to get a warning for holding onto Santos's shorts.

Santos said afterwards: “A draw never even crossed my mind. I felt it a little bit in the last round, but I believe I won the first two. You can schedule another fight against him and I’ll be there. I’ve got to go full force now.”

Parke, clearly disappointed afterwards, added: “I was winning the second round until I went for a takedown against the cage and my hand slipped from behind his knee, so I accidentally grabbed on to his short got a point taken from that. I think I should have gotten a warning first."

"I believe he grabbed the cage in the third round and never got a point taken, so theoretically I won the fight. Maybe he should come to Dublin in July and we’ll settle it once and for all.”